Essex supporters scoring with state finalists

The saying goes “everybody needs love sometime” and the Essex Football Team has been getting a lot of it this season from supporters. From coverage on social media outlets to free food, the Trojans

Jamar Kelly and Leo Gaskins stop on defense helped them reach reached the Group 1A State Championship on Saturday.

have been living the high life as they prepare for another big game this weekend.

Head Coach John Fulks said he has been in awe of the support from local churches and volunteers.

“I can’t say how overwhelmingly grateful we are for what they are doing,” Fulks said. “It’s really brought the team together.

“But the resources the volunteers have pulled together is just wonderful and really exciting,” Fulks added.

In previous seasons, firefighter Corey Beazley has been on the sidelines helping the team in case of emergency. Instead he is now supporting the team in other ways with social networking.

“It was a way to keep fans involved in what was going,” Beasley said.

The firefighter is also a 1992 graduate and former football player from Essex High School. Being able to help the team and having social networking tools has been exciting to Beasley.

“I’m doing it because I love being out here and wish I had something like this when I came along,” Beasley said.

Led by Joey Reinhardt, churches and members of the Tappahannock Volunteer Fire Department have been lending their support with meals and promoting the players. Larry Schools has also lent his time to producing videos of the players. The pastor at Ephesus Baptist Church and one this year’s guest speakers said he enjoys offering a keepsake item for the players to see their time playing football at Essex.

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